Parameter identification circuit, method and power supply system applying the same

ABSTRACT

A parameter identification circuit for a digital power converter having an inductor and a capacitor, can include: an inductor parameter circuit that receives an inductor current of the inductor, a capacitor voltage of the capacitor, a duty cycle in a start-up stage, and a predetermined inductor current, where the inductor parameter circuit obtains an inductor parameter according to an integrated value of the capacitor voltage, an integrated value of the duty cycle in the start-up stage, and the predetermined inductor current, when the inductor current rises to a level of the predetermined inductor current; and a capacitor parameter circuit that receives the inductor current, the capacitor voltage, and a predetermined capacitor voltage, where the capacitor parameter circuit obtains a capacitor parameter according to an integrated value of the inductor current and the predetermined capacitor voltage when the capacitor voltage rises to a level of the predetermined capacitor voltage.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of the following application, U.S.patent application Ser. No. 15/698,870, filed on Sep. 8, 2017, and whichis hereby incorporated by reference as if it is set forth in full inthis specification, and which also claims the benefit of Chinese PatentApplication No. 201610847952.6, filed on Sep. 23, 2016, which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to the field of powerelectronics, and more particularly to parameter identificationcircuitry, methods, and associated power supply systems.

BACKGROUND

As shown in FIG. 1, parameter identification for a digital powerconverter may operate in a condition whereby the power converter is inan open-loop. By inputting the disturbance signal, collecting theinductance value, capacitance value, and an output voltage, the moduleparameters of the digital regulator can be obtained through a certainalgorithm. However, because the power converter operates in an open-loopstate, it may be unable to output a stable voltage that satisfies loadrequirements during the parameter identification process.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an example digital powerconverter.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an example parameteridentification circuit, in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a waveform diagram of example operation of a parameteridentification circuit, in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference may now be made in detail to particular embodiments of theinvention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. While the invention may be described in conjunction with thepreferred embodiments, it may be understood that they are not intendedto limit the invention to these embodiments. On the contrary, theinvention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications andequivalents that may be included within the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, in thefollowing detailed description of the present invention, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the present invention. However, it may be readilyapparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may bepracticed without these specific details. In other instances, well-knownmethods, procedures, processes, components, structures, and circuitshave not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscureaspects of the present invention.

Digital-controlled power converters facilitate configuring theparameters of control circuits according to the parameters of theinductor and capacitor of the power converter. In particularembodiments, parameter identification can identify inductor andcapacitor parameters during a start-up state of the system withoutintroducing any disturbance signals. This is in contrast to performingparameter identification when the system is in the stable state wherebythe power converter operates in an open-loop mode to provide a stableoutput voltage for subsequent circuitry. In addition, particularembodiments can adaptively generate parameters for digital regulatorswith different inductor and capacitor parameters, such that the systemcan set the cut-off frequency, the phase margin, and the amplitudemargin.

In one embodiment, a parameter identification circuit for a digitalpower converter having an inductor and a capacitor, can include: (i) aninductor parameter circuit configured to receive an inductor current ofthe inductor, a capacitor voltage of the capacitor, a duty cycle in astart-up stage, and a predetermined inductor current, where the inductorparameter circuit is configured to obtain an inductor parameteraccording to an integrated value of the capacitor voltage, an integratedvalue of the duty cycle in the start-up stage, and the predeterminedinductor current, when the inductor current rises to a level of thepredetermined inductor current; and (ii) a capacitor parameter circuitconfigured to receive the inductor current, the capacitor voltage, and apredetermined capacitor voltage, where the capacitor parameter circuitis configured to obtain a capacitor parameter according to an integratedvalue of the inductor current and the predetermined capacitor voltagewhen the capacitor voltage rises to a level of the predeterminedcapacitor voltage.

Referring now to FIG. 2, shown is a schematic block diagram of anexample parameter identification circuit, in accordance with embodimentsof the present invention. In this example, the parameter identificationcircuit may be applied in a digital power converter, which can include apower stage circuit and a control circuit. In this particular example,the power stage circuit may have a Buck topology, which can includeinductor L, capacitor C, and switches Q1 and Q2. The control circuit caninclude parameter identification circuit 1, parameter calculationcircuit 2, and digital regulator 3.

Parameter identification circuit 1 can obtain an inductor parameter(e.g., an inductance value) of inductor L, and a capacitor parameter(e.g., a capacitance value) of capacitor C in the power stage circuit.Parameter calculation circuit 2 can calculate the parameters of themodel in digital regulator 3 according to the inductor parameter and thecapacitor parameter. Digital regulator 3 can generate control signalsfor switches Q1 and Q2 according to the parameters calculated byparameter calculation circuit 2, such that the output voltage of thepower converter can satisfy various application requirements.

Parameter identification circuit 1 can include inductor parametercircuit 11 and capacitor parameter circuit 12. Parameter identificationcircuit 1 can calculate capacitance value C and inductance value Laccording to a capacitor voltage, an inductor current, and duty cycle(e.g., of the switching regulator) in a start-up stage. The subsequentcircuit can calculate the conjugate pole frequency of the powerconverter according to capacitance value C and inductance value L. Thus,the digital regulator can adaptively generate parameters under theconditions of different inductor and capacitor parameters, such that thesystem can set the cut-off frequency, the phase margin, and theamplitude margin.

For example, the inductor parameter can be calculated based on thefollowing formula (1):

$\begin{matrix}{L = \frac{{\int_{0}^{t}{{D \cdot V_{i\; n}}{dt}}} - {\int_{0}^{t}{V_{C}{dt}}}}{I_{ref}}} & (1)\end{matrix}$

Predetermined inductor current I_(ref) can be set as smaller than amaximum current value that the power converter can withstand.

In one embodiment, a method of identifying parameters of a digital powerconverter having an inductor and a capacitor, can include: (i) setting apredetermined inductor current and a predetermined capacitor voltage;(ii) obtaining an inductor current of the inductor, a capacitor voltageof the capacitor, and a duty cycle in a start-up stage of the digitalpower converter; (iii) obtaining an inductor parameter according to anintegrated value of the capacitor voltage, an integrated value of theduty cycle in the start-up stage, and the predetermined inductorcurrent, when the inductor current rises to a level of the predeterminedinductor current; and (iv) obtaining a capacitor parameter according toan integrated value of the inductor current and the predeterminedcapacitor voltage when the capacitor voltage rises to a level of thepredetermined capacitor voltage.

Referring now to FIG. 3, shown is a waveform diagram of exampleoperation of a parameter identification circuit, in accordance withembodiments of the present invention. At time t₀, the power convertermay initiate a soft start-up stage, and capacitor voltage V_(C) and dutycycle D in the start-up stage may be integrated. At time t₁, wheninductor current i_(L) reaches a level of predetermined inductor currentI_(ref), the integrating operation is completed. Then, a product valuemay be obtained by multiplying the integrated value of the duty cycle inthe start-up stage by input voltage V_(in). A difference value can beobtained by subtracting the integrated value of the capacitor voltagefrom the product value. Inductance value L can be obtained by dividingthe difference value by predetermined inductor current I_(ref).

Referring also to FIG. 2, inductor parameter circuit 11 can receiveinductor current i_(L) of inductor L, capacitor voltage V_(C) of thecapacitor, the duty cycle in the start-up stage, and predeterminedinductor current I_(ref). When inductor current i_(L) reaches a level ofpredetermined inductor current I_(ref), the inductor parameter can beobtained according to the integrated value of the capacitor voltage, theintegrated value of the duty cycle in the start-up stage, andpredetermined inductor current I_(ref).

Inductor parameter circuit 11 can include comparator 111 that receivesinductor current i_(L) and predetermined inductor current I_(ref), andmay generate comparison signal Vcmp1. Inductor current i_(L) may be areal/direct inductor current, or a sampling value that represents theinductor current. In this particular example, comparator 111 may have anon-inverting input terminal that receives predetermined inductorcurrent I_(ref), and an inverting input terminal that receives inductorcurrent i_(L). When inductor current i_(L) is smaller/less thanpredetermined inductor current I_(ref), comparison signal Vcmp1 can behigh. When inductor current i_(L) reaches a level of predeterminedinductor current I_(ref), comparison signal Vcmp1 can go low.

Integrator 112 can receive comparison signal Vcmp1 and duty cycle D inthe start-up stage, and may perform an integrating operation on dutycycle D in the start-up stage when comparison signal Vcmp1 is at highlevel. When inductor current i_(L) is smaller than predeterminedinductor current I_(ref), the integrated value of duty cycle D in thestart-up stage can be provided when comparison signal Vcmp1 goes low.Gain circuit 116 can be provided for multiplying the integrated value ofduty cycle D in the start-up stage by input voltage V_(in). Integrator113 can receive comparison signal Vcmp1 and capacitor voltage V_(C), andmay perform an integrating operation on capacitor voltage V_(C) whencomparison signal Vcmp1 is high. When inductor current i_(L) issmaller/less than predetermined inductor current I_(ref), the integratedvalue of the capacitor voltage may be provided when comparison signalVcmp1 goes low.

Adder 114 can receive a product value of the integrated value of theduty cycle in the start-up stage and the input voltage, and theintegrated value of the capacitor voltage, and may generate a differencevalue of the product value and the integrated value of the capacitorvoltage by adding the product value with a negated value of theintegrated value of the capacitor voltage. Divider 115 can receive thedifference value of the product value and the integrated value of thecapacitor voltage, and predetermined inductor current I_(ref), and maygenerate inductor parameter L by performing a division operation on thedifference value and inductor current I_(ref).

For example, the capacitor parameter can be calculated based on thefollowing formula (2):

$\begin{matrix}{C = \frac{\int_{0}^{t}{i_{L}{dt}}}{V_{ref}}} & (2)\end{matrix}$

Predetermined capacitor voltage V_(ref), which may be smaller than theunder voltage lock out (UVLO) voltage of the subsequent circuit, can beset in advance. In addition, the subsequent circuit may be considered asno-load. As shown in FIG. 3, at time t₀, the power converter caninitiate a soft start-up stage, and inductor current i_(L) may beintegrated. At time t₂, when capacitor voltage Vc reaches a level ofpredetermined capacitor voltage V_(ref), the integrating operation iscompleted. The integrated value of inductor current i_(L) may be dividedby predetermined capacitor voltage V_(ref), in order to obtaincapacitance value C.

Capacitor parameter circuit 12 can receive inductor current i_(L),capacitor voltage V_(C), and predetermined capacitor voltage V_(ref).When capacitor voltage V_(C) rises to a level of predetermined capacitorvoltage V_(ref), capacitor parameter C can be obtained according to theintegrated value of the inductor current and predetermined capacitorvoltage V_(ref). Capacitor parameter circuit 12 can include comparator121 that receives capacitor voltage V_(C) and predetermined capacitorvoltage V_(ref), and may generate comparison signal Vcmp2. Similarly,capacitor voltage V_(C) may be a real/direct capacitor voltage, or asampling value that represents the capacitor voltage. In this particularexample, comparator 121 may have a non-inverting input terminal thatreceives predetermined capacitor voltage V_(ref), and an inverting inputterminal that receives capacitor voltage V_(C). When capacitor voltageV_(C) is smaller/less than predetermined capacitor voltage V_(ref),comparison signal Vcmp2 can be high. When capacitor voltage V_(C)reaches a level of predetermined capacitor voltage V_(ref), comparisonsignal Vcmp2 can go low.

Integrator 122 can receive comparison signal Vcmp2 and inductor currenti_(L), and may perform an integrating operation on inductor currenti_(L) when comparison signal Vcmp2 is high. When capacitor voltage V_(C)is smaller/less than predetermined capacitor voltage V_(ref), anintegrated value of inductor current i_(L) can be provided whencomparison signal Vcmp2 goes low. Divider 123 can receive the integratedvalue of the inductor current and predetermined capacitor voltageV_(ref), and may generate capacitor parameter C by performing a divisionoperation on the integrated value of the inductor current andpredetermined capacitor voltage V_(ref).

In particular embodiments, inductor and capacitor parameters can beidentified during the start-up of the system, instead of in a stableoperation state. Thus, the power converter needing to operate in anopen-loop mode and providing a required output voltage for a subsequentcircuit with signal injection while identifying such parameters can besubstantially avoided. In addition, particular embodiments canadaptively generate parameters for digital regulators with differentinductor and capacitor parameters. In this way, the system can satisfyrequirements of setting the cut-off frequency, the phase margin, and theamplitude margin.

The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention and its practical applications, to therebyenable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention andvarious embodiments with modifications as are suited to particularuse(s) contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention bedefined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A parameter identification circuit for a digitalpower converter having an inductor and a capacitor, wherein: a) saidparameter identification circuit adaptively generates an inductorparameter of said digital power converter when an inductor current risesto a level of a predetermined inductor current during a start-up stageof said digital power converter that is outside of a steady stage; b)said parameter identification circuit adaptively generates a capacitorparameter of said digital power converter when a capacitor voltage risesto a level of a predetermined capacitor voltage during said start-upstage of said digital power converter; and c) the stability of an outputvoltage of said digital power converter is not affected by saidgeneration of said inductor parameter and said capacitor parameter. 2.The parameter identification circuit of claim 1, wherein said parameteridentification circuit is configured to generate said inductor parameterand said capacitor parameter in accordance with said capacitor voltage,said inductor current, and a duty cycle in said start-up stage.
 3. Theparameter identification circuit of claim 2, wherein said parameteridentification circuit comprises: a) an inductor parameter circuitcoupled to said inductor, and being configured to obtain said inductorparameter according to an integrated value of said capacitor voltage, anintegrated value of said duty cycle in said start-up stage, and saidpredetermined inductor current; and b) a capacitor parameter circuitconfigured to obtain said capacitor parameter according to an integratedvalue of said inductor current and said predetermined capacitor voltage.4. The parameter identification circuit of claim 3, wherein saidinductor parameter circuit is configured to obtain a product value bymultiplying said integrated value of said duty cycle in said start-upstage by an input voltage, and to obtain a difference value bysubtracting said integrated value of said capacitor voltage from saidproduct value, wherein said inductor parameter is obtained by dividingsaid difference value by said predetermined inductor current.
 5. Theparameter identification circuit of claim 3, wherein said inductorparameter circuit comprises: a) a first comparator configured to receivesaid inductor current and said predetermined inductor current, and togenerate a first comparison signal; b) a first integrator configured toreceive said first comparison signal and said duty cycle in saidstart-up stage, and to perform an integrating operation on said dutycycle in said start-up stage according to a level of said firstcomparison signal; and c) a second integrator configured to receive saidfirst comparison signal and said capacitor voltage, and to perform anintegral action on said capacitor voltage according to said level ofsaid first comparison signal.
 6. The parameter identification circuit ofclaim 5, wherein said inductor parameter circuit further comprises: a)an adder configured to receive said product value of said integratedvalue of said duty cycle in said start-up stage and said input voltage,and said integrated value of said capacitor voltage, and to generatesaid difference value by performing a subtraction operation; and b) adivider configured to receive said difference value and saidpredetermined inductor current, and to generate said inductor parameterby performing a division operation.
 7. The parameter identificationcircuit of claim 3, wherein said capacitor parameter circuit comprises:a) a second comparator configured to receive said capacitor voltage andsaid predetermined capacitor voltage, and to generate a secondcomparison signal; b) a third integrator configured to receive saidsecond comparison signal and said inductor current, and to perform anintegrating operation on said inductor current according to a level ofsaid second comparison signal; and c) a divider configured to receivesaid integrated value of said inductor current and said predeterminedcapacitor voltage, and to generate said capacitor parameter byperforming a division operation.
 8. The parameter identification circuitof claim 2, wherein said inductor current, said capacitor voltage, andsaid duty cycle in said start-up stage are integrated when said digitalpower converter is enabled.
 9. The parameter identification circuit ofclaim 2, wherein said capacitor parameter comprises a quotient of saidintegrated value of said inductor current and a predetermined capacitorvoltage.
 10. A method of identifying parameters of a digital powerconverter having an inductor and a capacitor, the method comprising: a)obtaining an inductor parameter when an inductor current rises to alevel of a predetermined inductor current during a start-up stage ofsaid digital power converter that is outside of a steady stage; b)obtaining a capacitor parameter when a capacitor voltage rises to alevel of a predetermined e during said start-up stage of said digitalpower converter; and c) wherein the stability of an output voltage ofsaid digital power converter is not affected by said obtaining saidinductor parameter and said obtaining said capacitor parameter.
 11. Themethod of claim 10, wherein said parameter identification circuitgenerates said inductor parameter and said capacitor parameter inaccordance with said capacitor voltage, said inductor current, and aduty cycle in said start-up stage.
 12. The method of claim 10, furthercomprising: a) obtaining an inductor parameter according to anintegrated value of said capacitor voltage, an integrated value of saidduty cycle in said start-up stage, and said predetermined inductorcurrent; and b) obtaining a capacitor parameter according to anintegrated value of said inductor current and said predeterminedcapacitor voltage.
 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising: a)obtaining a product value by multiplying said integrated value of saidduty cycle in said start-up stage by an input voltage; b) obtaining adifference value by subtracting said integrated value of said capacitorvoltage from said product value; and c) generating said inductorparameter by dividing said difference value by said predeterminedinductor current.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein said capacitorparameter comprises a quotient of said integrated value of said inductorcurrent and said predetermined capacitor voltage.
 15. A power supplysystem, comprising: a) a power stage circuit configured to convert aninput voltage to an output signal, wherein said power stage circuitcomprises an inductor, a capacitor, and a switching transistor; b) aparameter identification circuit configured to generate an inductorparameter of said inductor when an inductor current rises to a level ofa predetermined inductor current during a start-up stage of said powersupply system that is outside of a steady stage, and a capacitorparameter of said capacitor when a capacitor voltage rises to a level ofa predetermined capacitor voltage during said start-up stage of saidpower supply system, wherein the stability of said output voltage is notaffected by said generation of said inductor parameter and saidcapacitor parameter; and c) a parameter calculation circuit configuredto calculate control parameters of a digital regulator according to saidinductor parameter and said capacitor parameter, wherein said digitalregulator is configured to generate a control signal for said switchingtransistor in accordance with said control parameters.
 16. The powersupply system of claim 15, wherein said parameter identification circuitis configured to: a) generate said inductor parameter in accordance withan integral calculation of said capacitor voltage, said inductor currentand a duty cycle in said start-up stage; and b) generate said capacitorparameter in accordance with an integral calculation of said inductorcurrent in said start-up stage.
 17. The power supply system of claim 15,wherein said control parameters are determined to satisfy a cutofffrequency and a phase margin of said power supply system.